Our top five autumn walks in Wales
Autumn is the perfect time of year to enjoy walking in Wales. The summer crowds have gone, the light turns golden and the hillsides and valleys take on surprising colours. These five walks are all reachable by TfW trains. Each one thoroughly earns its place on the list.
Plan your journey before you set off and always check the weather first.
1. The Sugar Loaf, Abergavenny
The Sugar Loaf rises to 596 metres above the market town of Abergavenny and offers one of the most rewarding ‘short climbs’ in the whole of Bannau Brycheiniog.
The route from the car park at Mynydd Llanwenarth is around 3.5 miles – roughly two hours at a comfortable pace - with dramatic views across the Usk Valley and Black Mountains. These are at their best on a crisp October morning when the valley is full of autumn colour.
Abergavenny itself is a lovely place to explore before or after the walk, with a great market, independent cafés and the impressive remains of Abergavenny Castle.
How to get there: Abergavenny station is on the Welsh Marches line from Cardiff to Manchester. Journeys from Cardiff take around 45 minutes.
2. Gwydir Forest, Llanrwst
Gwydir Forest surrounds the pretty Conwy Valley town of Llanrwst and covers the lower slopes of the mountains on either side of the river. In autumn the mix of oak, beech and larch turns the forest into a patchwork of amber, gold and rust. The waymarked trails range from gentle riverside strolls to longer routes climbing to open moorland above the treeline.
Llanrwst is home to Tu Hwnt i'r Bont, the iconic 15th century stone cottage teahouse on the bridge over the Afon Conwy. It’s one of the most photographed buildings in Wales and particularly beautiful when the surrounding trees are turning.
How to get there: Llanrwst station is on the Conwy Valley line. Trains from Llandudno Junction take around 30 minutes.
3. Neath Valley and Aberdulais Falls
The lower Neath Valley is spectacular in autumn, although the falls at Aberdulais make a fine destination any time of year. The gorge woodland above the falls is particularly striking in October, when the beech trees above the roaring water turn copper and gold. The falls are managed by the National Trust and are well worth the entry fee.
From Neath, the Tennant and Neath Canals also offer easy, flat walking through woodland and countryside that comes into its own in the autumn months.
How to get there: Neath station is on the mainline from Cardiff, with a journey time of around 35 minutes.
4. Brechfa Forest, Carmarthenshire
Brechfa Forest is one of the less-visited corners of Wales, which makes it all the more rewarding when you make the effort to get there. The Forestry Wales waymarked trails wind through ancient oak woodland and commercial forest, following streams and crossing open ground with long views across the Cothi Valley. The forest is particularly beautiful in mid to late October when the native broadleaves are at their peak.
How to get there: The nearest TfW station is Carmarthen, where local bus services head for Brechfa village. Carmarthen is around one hour 15 minutes from Cardiff Central, with regular direct services.
5. The Conwy Mountain ridge, Conwy
For a short but exhilarating ridge walk with views that will stay with you, the Conwy Mountain loop is hard to beat.
Starting from the town of Conwy itself, the path climbs steeply to the ridge above the town. It then follows it west to the ancient hillfort at Pen y Gaer, with panoramic views across the Conwy estuary, the mountains of Eryri to the south and the sea to the north.
The whole loop takes around three hours and finishes back in Conwy, where a bowl of cawl in one of the town's cafés is the ideal way to end the day.
How to get there: Conwy station is on the North Wales Main Line, with trains from Llandudno Junction taking around five minutes and from Chester around an hour.
